Health Alerts - February 2003

Mead Johnson Nutritionals, of Evansville, Ind., is recalling 505 cases of EnfaCare LIPIL 12.9-ounce powdered infant formula because the product is contaminated with Enterobacter sakazakii. In rare cases, E. sakazakii can cause sepsis (bacteria in the blood), meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain) or necrotizing enterocolitis (severe intestinal infection) in newborns, particularly premature infants, or infants with weakened immune systems.

There are no reports of illnesses.

The cases and cans are coded BME01, with an expiration date of Jan. 1, 2004 (embossed 1JAN04). No other batches of EnfaCare LIPIL are affected.

EnfaCare LIPIL is a formula for infants with conditions such as prematurity. Five hundred five cases from this batch were shipped to hospitals, retail stores and WIC (Women, Infants and Children program) clinics nationwide during December 2002.

Formula batch BME01 should not be used. Parents with formula from this batch code, as well as consumers or health care professionals with questions, may call the Mead Johnson Consumer Resource Center at (888) 587-7275.

Lovee Doll & Toy Co. Inc., of New York, N.Y., is recalling 160,000 talking, electronic dolls because the buttons on the dolls’ outfit can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

No injuries have been reported.

The recall includes the Talking Learn n’ Play dolls with buttons. The dolls describe the functions of zippers, buttons, snaps and shoelaces, and are dressed in jumpers with plaid shirts.

Toy and discount department stores sold the dolls nationwide from June through December 2002 for $10 to $15.

Return the dolls to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, contact Lovee Doll & Toy Co. Inc. at (800) 307-5911.

Kmart Corp., of Troy, Mich., is recalling 50,000 candy-filled wooden vehicles because the wheels on the wooden toys can break off into small parts, posing a choking hazard to young children. Kmart has not received any reports of incidents.

The recalled wooden items include a red wagon, truck and train and show the following UPC codes on the bottom of the vehicles: 694405900012 (wagon), 694405900029 (truck) and 694405900036 (train).

Kmart stores nationwide sold these wooden vehicles from November through December 2002 for about $5.

Return them to any Kmart store for a refund. For more information, call (800) 63KMART (800-635-6278).

Kohl’s Department Stores Inc., of Menomonee Falls, Wis., is recalling 9,600 children’s two-piece fleece pant sets because pieces of fabric on the tops can be torn off easily, posing a choking hazard.

Kohl’s has received two reports of young children putting torn fabric pieces in their mouths; one child reportedly began to choke on a piece of the material.

The recall includes the First Moments and Second Step brand two-piece pants sets in sizes 3 to 24 months. The cut-out floral patterns on the shirt tear easily from the rest of the garment.

Kohl’s sold the pant sets nationwide from September through early November 2002 for about $18.

Return pant sets to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call Kohl’s at (800) 694-2647 or visit www.Kohls.com.

Elkton Sparkler Co. Inc., of North East, Md., is recalling 1.7 million boxes of bamboo stick sparklers because the handles can catch fire, burn and disintegrate, as well as emit burning fragments during use, posing a fire hazard and a risk of burn injury.

Elkton Sparkler and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have received four reports of burns and clothing igniting. Injuries include a 6-year-old who received second-degree burns to her ankle and a 3-year-old with a minor burn to his leg when his sweat pants caught on fire.

The recalled items, with six sparklers per box, include models SP08, SP14 and SP20. Variety Stores sold these sparklers nationwide from January through May 2002 for $2 to $5 a box.

Return the sparklers to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, contact Elkton Sparklers at (800) 322-3458 or visit www.easylite.com.

Wear Me Apparel Corp., of New York, N.Y., is recalling 3,000 infant girls’ garments because the paint on the zipper-pull attached to the sweat jacket contains lead, presenting a lead poisoning hazard.

No injuries have been reported.

The recalled garments were sold under the Joe Boxer brand in sizes 12 through 18 months and size 24 months. The sets include a light tan sweat jacket with “Smile” embroidered on the front and a painted “smiley face” yellow zipper-pull and red sweat pants. Included in the recall are style numbers 40801002 and 40801003, which can be found on the reverse side of the care label.

Kmart stores nationwide sold these garments from August through October 2002 for $10 to $13.

Return the clothing sets to any Kmart store for a refund. For more information, call Wear Me Apparel Corp. at (866) 469-6257.

Zutano Inc., of Cabot, Vt., is recalling 3,000 “Hip Hoppy” stuffed bunnies because the buttons on the toys’ jackets can detach and pose a choking hazard to young children.

There are no reports of injuries.

Department and specialty stores nationwide sold the recalled bunny toys from July 2000 through December 2002 for about $18.

Contact Zutano at (800) 287-5139 to receive a replacement outfit.

Century Tool and Manufacturing Co. Inc., of Cherry Valley, Ill., is recalling 6,300 propane-powered camping stoves because the burner assembly in the stoves can restrict the flow of gas, which can cause a leak. The leaking gas can ignite and weaken the hose, causing it to separate from the stove and pose a fire hazard.

Century has received eight reports of hoses separating from stoves, causing one minor injury. The recalled stoves were sold under the Century, Hillary and LL Bean brand names. The stoves have a drip tray, two or three burners, and a black or green base. The manufacturing date (050202 through 073102) and model number (4660, 4665, 4675, 4730, 4960, 72861 and 4960LLB) are printed on the inside lid.

Sporting goods, camping supply and mass merchandise stores nationwide sold these stoves from May through September 2002 for up to $90.

For information on replacing the stove, contact Century at (800) 435-4525; write Century Tool and Mfg. Company, P.O. Box 188, Cherry Valley, IL 61016; or visit www.centurytoolmfg.com.

Sun Rise Bicycle Industrial Co. Ltd. of Taiwan and Raleigh America Inc., of Kent, Wash., are recalling 2,800 Diamondback bicycles because the frames can break and cause riders to lose control.

Raleigh America has received 13 reports of frames breaking, including one injury report.

The recall involves the 2002 Diamondback X-10 and X-20 full-suspension, Y-frame mountain bikes. They are either silver and black or black and blue.

Diamondback dealers sold the bicycles nationwide from September 2001 through October 2002 for about $550 for the X-10 and $770 for the X-20.

Return the bikes to a Diamondback dealer to receive a free replacement frame. For more information or the name of the nearest dealer, call Raleigh America at (888) 805-6396 or visit www.diamondback.com.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says consumers should watch out for problems with child seats equipped with recessed buckles built into the seat between the child’s legs because the buckles can easily collect particles of food, drink, dirt, sand or other material that may interfere with latching and unlatching the buckles.

In some cases, the material may cause a “false latch” if the user mistakenly believes that the buckle is securely latched when it is not.

To ensure that a child is securely fastened in the child seat, always check that the buckle is fully latched every time the seat is used. Insert the latch plate fully into the buckle; listen for a click; and tug firmly on the harness webbing to make sure the buckle is latched.

Inspect the car seat regularly for food or debris in the buckle area. If the buckle becomes difficult to operate, or fails to latch even after it is cleaned, NHTSA recommends reporting the problems to the child seat manufacturer and the safety agency’s toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236. If the buckle does not latch properly even after it is cleaned, the seat should not be used.

Pace Products Inc., of Apopka, Fla., is recalling 145,000 children’s soap-making kits because the soap may get too hot when heated in the microwave oven and leak from the mold, posing a burn hazard.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has received three reports of burn injuries, including a 6-year-old who received burns to her head.

The “Soap Making for Kids” kits include a plastic mold tray, three bars of glycerine, string and an instruction book.

Scholastic Book Clubs and Book Fairs sold the kits at schools nationwide from March 2000 through November 2002, and bookstores sold them from March 1998 through November 2002 for about $8.

Contact Pace Products at (800) 541-7670 or visit www.paceplace.com for instructions on returning the soap kits for a refund.